Evaluating the holistic costs and benefits of corn production systems in Minnesota, US.

Global agriculture aims to minimize its impacts on environment and human health while maintaining its productivity. This requires a comprehensive understanding of its benefits and costs to ecosystems and society. Here, we apply a new evaluation framework developed by the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food (TEEBAgriFood) to assess key benefits and costs on the production side of genetically modified (GM) and organic corn systems in Minnesota, USA. The market value of GM corn is $4.5 billion, and only $31.8 million for organic corn using production data and market prices of 2017. GM corn generates revenue of $1488 per hectare (at $121 per MT), which is significantly lower than the organic corn at $2793 per hectare (at $294 per MT). Using a novel three-stage wellbeing valuation, analysis of the associations between corn production intensity and subjective measures of general health and wellbeing indicates that the total non-financial health cost associated with GM corn is $427.50 per hectare or $1.3 billion annually. We also find that the total annual environmental cost associated with GM corn production is $179 per hectare or $557.65 million within Minnesota. The use of the evaluation framework can help to improve decision making at farm and policy level to develop sustainable agriculture in order to minimize environmental and health related costs to society and economy.

What is 'Alzheimer's Disease'? The 'Auguste D' Case Re-opened.

What is Alzheimer's: an organic, neuropathological psychiatric disease, caused by plaques and tangles in aging brains or/and an existential condition affecting the minds of aging persons experiencing disconnection from meaning-bearing networks of social relations? Reviewing current research and revisiting Alzheimer's original case of 'Auguste D' this paper offers an historical-sociological genealogy that raises fundamental questions of causality, and even of the ontological status of Alzheimer's and the dementia reputed to it as a disease entity. Drawing on Kuhn's notion of 'science as usual' and Foucault's notion of the discursive formation of 'regimes of truth', our analysis seeks to understand how a sole medical focus on either bio-markers of neurological disease or genetic association was accomplished in the absence of sufficient and robust evidence. To counter the exclusion of psychosocial considerations, this paper offers two original hypotheses on the iconic case of 'Auguste D', taking into account the social milieu in which she lived and the specific circumstances of her life. It goes on to suggest the way in which the contemporary socio-cultural context may have dementiagenic tendencies. This research supports Gaines and Whitehouse's argument that research into the phenomenon and symptoms of Alzheimer's should focus on extracorporal and psychosocial factors.

In a bad place: Carers of patients with head and neck cancer experiences of travelling for cancer treatment.

PURPOSE: To explore the effect that treatment-related commuting has on carers of patients with head and neck cancer. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews, thematically analysed, with 31 carers. RESULTS: Treatment-related commuting had a considerable impact on carers of patients with head and neck cancer, both in practical terms (economic costs, disruption) and also in psychological terms. Many carers of patients with head and neck cancer described becoming distressed by their commute. Some carers from large urban cities appeared to have hidden commuting burdens. Some carers respond to commuting stress by 'zoning out' or becoming 'like zombies'. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment-related travel for head and neck cancer can have significant practical and psychological impacts. Health professionals should be aware of the impacts that commuting can have on head and neck caregivers. Health services may be able to take practical steps, such as providing subsidized parking, to address head and neck carergivers' difficulties.

Enhanced colonic delivery of ciclosporin A self-emulsifying drug delivery system encapsulated in coated minispheres.

OBJECTIVES: Investigate the potential of coated minispheres (SmPill®) to enhance localized Ciclosporin A (CsA) delivery to the colon. METHODS: CsA self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) were encapsulated into SmPill® minispheres. Varying degrees of coating thickness (low, medium and high) were applied using ethylcellulose and pectin (E:P) polymers. In vitro CsA release was evaluated in simulated gastric and intestinal media. Bioavailability of CsA in vivo following oral administration to pigs of SmPill® minispheres was compared to Neoral® po and Sandimmun® iv in a pig model. CsA concentrations in blood and intestinal tissue were determined by HPLC-UV. RESULTS: In vitro CsA release from coated minispheres decreased with increasing coating thickness. A linear relationship was observed between in vitro CsA release and in vivo bioavailability (r(2) = 0.98). CsA concentrations in the proximal, transverse and distal colon were significantly higher following administration of SmPill®, compared to Neoral® po and Sandimmun® iv (p < 0.05). Analysis of transverse colon tissue subsections also revealed significantly higher CsA concentrations in the mucosa and submucosa using SmPill® minispheres (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Modulating E:P coating thickness controls release of CsA from SmPill® minispheres. Coated minispheres limited CsA release in the small intestine and enhanced delivery and uptake in the colon. These findings demonstrate clinical advantages of an oral coated minisphere-enabled CsA formulation in the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the large intestine.

Silicon microfluidic flow focusing devices for the production of size-controlled PLGA based drug loaded microparticles.

The increasing realisation of the impact of size and surface properties on the bio-distribution of drug loaded colloidal particles has driven the application of micro fabrication technologies for the precise engineering of drug loaded microparticles. This paper demonstrates an alternative approach for producing size controlled drug loaded PLGA based microparticles using silicon Microfluidic Flow Focusing Devices (MFFDs). Based on the precise geometry and dimensions of the flow focusing channel, microparticle size was successfully optimised by modifying the polymer type, disperse phase (Qd) flow rate, and continuous phase (Qc) flow rate. The microparticles produced ranged in sizes from 5 to 50 µm and were highly monodisperse (coefficient of variation <5%). A comparison of Ciclosporin (CsA) loaded PLGA microparticles produced by MFFDs vs conventional production techniques was also performed. MFFDs produced microparticles with a narrower size distribution profile, relative to the conventional approaches. In-vitro release kinetics of CsA was found to be influenced by the production technique, with the MFFD approach demonstrating the slowest rate of release over 7 days (4.99 ± 0.26%). Finally, MFFDs were utilised to produce pegylated microparticles using the block co-polymer, PEG-PLGA. In contrast to the smooth microparticles produced using PLGA, PEG-PLGA microparticles displayed a highly porous surface morphology and rapid CsA release, with 85 ± 6.68% CsA released after 24h. The findings from this study demonstrate the utility of silicon MFFDs for the precise control of size and surface morphology of PLGA based microparticles with potential drug delivery applications.

Investigation of the interaction of biodegradable micro- and nanoparticulate drug delivery systems with platelets.

OBJECTIVES: Biodegradable micro- and nanoparticles are being increasingly investigated for drug delivery and targeting of therapeutics. The size and surface properties of these particles are important factors influencing their interaction and uptake by various cells, tissues and organs. Optimising these properties, to enhance cellular uptake, may increase their potential for interaction with other physiological components such as platelets resulting in platelet activation and inappropriate thrombus formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential interaction of particulates with platelets. METHODS: Biodegradable micro- and nanoparticles based on poly-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA), poly-lactide-co-glycolide-macrogol (PLGA-macrogol) and chitosan were prepared using solvent evaporation, spray drying or solvent dispersion techniques. KEY FINDINGS: Microparticles formulated had a median diameter (D50%) of 2-9 µm, while nanoparticles had an average diameter of 100-500 nm. The surface morphology ranged from smooth and spherical to irregular depending on polymer and preparation method used. Particles, reconstituted in the concentration range of 0.1-500 µg/ml, were tested for their ability to induce or inhibit platelet aggregation. No effects on either induction of platelet activity or inhibition of aggregation were detected. CONCLUSIONS: None of the particles examined were found to alter platelet activity. These results suggested that the biodegradable micro- and nanoparticles tested were safe for use as potential drug carriers of therapeutic agents.